Wood Species Guide
Tamo Ash
Fraxinus mandshurica
Also called: Japanese Ash, Manchurian Ash, Tamo, Peanut Ash (figured), Shioji (shared Japanese name)
About the name “Tamo Ash”
Tamo is the Japanese trade name for figured ash from northeast Asia. Most of it is Manchurian ash, but Japanese ash sold as shioji can include other Fraxinus species.
What Tamo Ash looks like
Light tan to golden brown, often with darker streaks. The prized figure is a dense pattern of swirls and dimples known as peanut or blister figure.
Grain and texture
Ring-porous with a medium to coarse texture. Figured pieces have wild, swirling grain that catches the light as it moves.
Working Tamo Ash: planing, cutting and gluing
Plain stock works like other ash, but most tamo comes as thin, figured veneer or bookmatched tops. Use a sharp scraper or sand rather than planing figured pieces.
Finishing Tamo Ash: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Dyes and clear finishes make the figure jump, which is why it is popular on guitars and drums. Seal or grain-fill the pores before epoxy or a high-gloss finish. Veneer needs a thin first coat to avoid bleed-through.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Perishable outdoors and prone to insects, so keep it indoors. Veneered work is stable. In Florida, keep figured tops in air conditioning and finish both faces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Tamo ash is a figure wood: you'll see it as veneer, guitar tops and drum shells more than as lumber. The swirling peanut figure looks great under a translucent dye. Because it is listed under CITES, imports need paperwork. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Tamo Ash
Decorative veneer, guitar tops, drum shells, fine furniture, marquetry and small specialty pieces.
Sustainability and CITES status
Listed in CITES Appendix III by Russia, so logs, sawn wood and veneer from the Russian population need CITES paperwork. It is not on the IUCN Red List.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
Few reports on tamo itself. Ash in general is a mild irritant of skin and airways.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Ash dust can irritate the skin and airways, and reduced lung function has been reported with heavy exposure. Use dust collection and a mask.
Tamo Ash in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Tamo Ash listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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